Has anyone got a slow cooker?

[WoollyNewty]

I am what I would describe as a lazy cook and I was flicking through a magazine the other day and noticed a 'slow cooker'. Now I thought these went out in the 70's but clearly not. In the winter I do like my stew/casseroles/beany things/cheap things so I wondered if it was a good idea to get one? I HATE making mess and fuss in the evenings so I reckon with one of these jobbies I could just do it all first thing in the morning and then by the evening all I've got to worry about it is eating the food!

Any experiences? (good and bad!)

[littlepinkpiglet]

I LOVE mine but I'm just off out the door so I'll get back to you on this one.

[Minky]

Moi. I lurve it so much I brought it with me from Kiwiland. I have a special crock pot cook book to go with it Woolly, so can be your recipe reference!

It's great for casseroles, stews and soups. Wouldn't be without it in the winter - also great for rustling up a curry.

YUM!!!

Mine is not very funky looking sadly, though you can get groovy stainless steel ones these days

[Blonde Girl]

Oooh I have been thinking about getting one of these too. Any recomendations as to which (cheap) one to get?

[Lois Lane]

We got one as an engagement present years ago and thought it was an odd present but we LOVE it! Like Minky says it's a godsend in the winter and the meat is SOOOOOOO tender it melts in the mouth. DH makes a mean meat pie and we put the meat in the slow cooker all day first - it's Paige's favourite.

Cathy I don't think mine was very expensive - it's by Morphy Richards but I don't know the model number.

[WoollyNewty]

Ohhh I'm getting really excited now !!! It sounds fab - the whole 'melt in the mouth' meat thing - plus like you say Lois I think toddlers like that kind of food so hopefully it will feed the WHOLE family easily. Minky - I will be raiding your knowledge for receipes!

I might even ask for one for my birthday - WHAT has my life come to.... (and yours Cathy! )

[Lois Lane]

Ohhh I'm getting really excited now !!! It sounds fab - the whole 'melt in the mouth' meat thing - plus like you say Lois I think toddlers like that kind of food so hopefully it will feed the WHOLE family easily. Minky - I will be raiding your knowledge for receipes!

I might even ask for one for my birthday - WHAT has my life come to.... (and yours Cathy! )

Woolly I got a Kenwood mixer for my birthday last year so I feel your pain!!!! (Wouldn't be without it though!) I was positively orgasmic in Williams Sonoma in the states this year when I picked up a really cool new icing gadget for cake making. GOD I'M OLD!!!!!

You're right about family meals - we tend to use ours more at weekends when we have the time to all sit down to meals together and Paige absolutely adores her Daddy's stews and meat pies.

[Bluebabe75]

I've got one too (but then I have a kitchen with more gadgets than space ).... only used it a couple of times so far, but am planning to use it a lot more this winter when I'll be home on maternity leave.

Made a really good beef in red wine casserole in it last time - only problem was the cork got stuck in the red wine, and then the wine exploded all over me and the kitchen, five minutes before I was meant to leave for work Was a bit late washing it all off, but the casserole was definitely worth the effort

[wotsit]

Everything I cook in mine is just bland casserole flavour - all tastes the same.
Anyone got any good recipes then?

[August Girl]

I have one but haven't had any luck with it, everything I have made has been a disaster! It's asleep under the stairs at the moment and I'd forgotten it was there till now. Shh, let it sleep

[wotsit]

Yeah! Mine's asleep in a threesome with my breadmaker and deep fat fryer!!

[littlepinkpiglet]

A bouquet garni, a stock cube (if not cooking for kids) and a few glugs of wine is always good for flavour! And making sure you get lots of colour on any meat that's going in.

My faves to make in it are beef stew, chili, coq-au-vin, curry, black-eyed-peas and boiled peanuts! (a very very southern institution around here). A friend of mine makes a wicked tex-mex pot roast. She cooks the brisket in a slow cooker then makes burritos with it!!!

The only drawback is having to stand and brown the meat off before you dump it in. I sometimes chuck all the ingredients in before I go to bed, take the ceramic pot out and put it in the fridge. Then all I have to do in the morning is turn it on.

As Minky says, soups are a doddle and always turn out nicely. And they're great for getting rid of leftovers! Off the top of my head - if we've had a roast chicken, take off the scraps, put the carcass in with veg. and stock and let it simmer all day, add the chicken meat back in - yummy chicken soup.

Or if we've had a roast ham, take the scraps off and put the bone in with either turnip greens and water (another VERY southern US thing...) or make a soup of ham and beans! Delish

There are LOADS of websites out there for recipes, you have to wade through to get some good ones though. Just google "crock pot recipes"

I've got a book if you want a morrocan lamb one or even cake Once you've got the hang of how the recipes are put together the possibilities are limitless. There told you I loved mine

ETA: Meant to say too that they're FAB for keeping things warm when serving for a large crowd.

[WoollyNewty]

Wow LPP!!! That post is making me SOOOOOOOOOOO hungry!

OK I am definatley buying one now. I just love that kind of food - some great tips there and I shall get googling!

[shamu]

I think I'm going to have to invest this year too - age catching up with me...
I love the idea that I can shove everything in one pot in the morning and it's there, ready for me when I get home. Mind you, we have NO room in our kitchen (though it would be good to have "inviting foodie smells" when people finally come round to view the flat....)
Will listen out for recommendations
Shamu

[miss.understood]

i rescued mine from my nans house when she died my dad was gonna chuck out i used to love all the things my nan cooked in it, it was lovely just thinking about. so i lovelingly prepared all the stuff to make the cassarole followed her recipe which i also found ina pile my dad was chucking out followed everything just as she did and left it too cook in thesame amount of time she would have, and i opened the lid it smelt lovely and put the ladle in to get some out and it bounced off the top it had turned into a jelly with meat and veg in it lord knows what i did wrong or why it happenbed but i have never used it sinse it has been in the larder just next to the juicer i never use and deep fat fryer which has been out tonite for the first time in over a year.

[Minky]

I'm a bit slack about browning meat but things always seem to work out fine! I made London Particular (Gordon R's pea and ham soup) in mine and it was yummy.

I'm thinking I might make it for NooNoo, AG and Spacey when they come to stay for the Damsel's party. With savoury scones.

[WoollyNewty]

That is kind of alarming miss.understood!!! Maybe it was broken and not functioning well!?!?

Anyway I've just googled crock pot recipes and over HALF A MILLION hits came up - that should keep me busy........

[Minky]

One top tip is that you don't need much liquid as the steam condenses into water as things cook.

[MaisyMay]

I love mine. It's a six litre one and I got it at Macro (think I paid about £18 for it). It's ideal for us as it makes a huge amount of food and in the winter I bung it on in the morning if I know I've got a busy day. Then it's ready for our evening meal. The other good thing is that it keeps the food warm so if we have kids coming back later their meal is still hot. I tend to do veggie stuff in mine and have a few recipe books my mother in law gave me for slow cookers. I wouldn't be without mine now.

[~Twiggy~]

I have a slow cooker too. It is brill for lordship as he is late home as it keeps the food warm until whatever time. Yeah there are loads of recipes out there!